"He does a good job in the passing game and in the running game -- both inside and outside. Blitz pickup -- we have a pretty extensive offense for him to learn, but he's working hard at it. We'll just let him go and see how it goes, but I think he has the ability to compete on all three downs, in both the running game and the passing game."

The takeaway here is that White is seen as a weapon who can stay on the field for more than just passing downs, a message echoed by Tom Brady:

Brady on James White: Nothing seems too big for him. In the few practices we've had, he's made an impression on everybody. #SXMNFL#TCT

"In the first few days of camp, it's been clear that rookie running back James White has exceptional skills and moves with the confidence of a veteran," wrote Zuri Berry of The Boston Globe. "He is quickly becoming one of the camp's top phenoms and is the team's leading rookie."

Talked about as a Kevin Faulk type, White's 5-foot-10, 205-pound frame is smaller than what the Patriots typically draft as lead-back material. Still, no team in the league recreates itself on offense as frequently: Looking for a "type" of Patriots back is a fool's game.

If White -- who averaged 6.2 yards per carry in college -- can pick up New England's constantly evolving playbook, he's a candidate to see early-season action and possibly put Bolden on the roster bubble.